Automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments.



PATENTED MAR. 1, 1904. T. B. POWERS & M. R. JEWBLL. AUTOMATIC PLAYING APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14, 1901 N0 MODEL.

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No. 753,809. PATENTED MAR. 1, 1904.

T. B. POWERS & M. R. JEWBLL. AUTOMATIC PLAYING APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14, 1901.

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No. 753,809. PATENTED MAR. 1, 1904..

T. B. POWERS & M. R.'JEWELL. AUTOMATIC PLAYING APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14. 1901. no MODEL 10 SHEETS-SHEET s.

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No. 753,809. PATENTED MAR. 1, 1904. T. B. POWERS.& M. R. JEWELL. AUTOMATIG PLAYING APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

7 APPLICATION FILED AUG.14. 1901.

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No. 753,809; PATENTED MAR. l, 1904.- T. B. POWERS & M. R. JEWELL. AUTOMATIC PLAYING APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14, 1901.

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No. 753,809. PATENTBD MAR. 1, 1904. T. B. POWERS & M. R. JEWELL. AUTOMATIC PLAYING APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.14, 1901.

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No. 753,809. PATENTED MAR. 1, 1904. T. B. POWERS & M. R. JEWELL.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.14, 1901.

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No. 753,809. PATENTED MAR. 1. 1904. T..B. POWERS & M. R. JEWELL. AUTOMATIC PLAYING APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.14, 1901.

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No. 753,809. PATENTED MAR. l, 1904. T. B. POWERS & M. R. JEWELL. AUTOMATIC PLAYING APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.14. 1901.

10 MODEL 10 SHEETS-SHEET 9,

04 TTORNE Y5,

PATENTED MAR. 1, 1904. T. B POWERS & M. R. JBWELL.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILBD'AUG.14, 1901.

N0 MODEL. 10 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

WITNESSES:

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UNITED STATES Patented March 1, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

TIMOTHY BERNARD POWVERS AND MAJOR ROMEYN JEWVELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO IMPERIAL CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEIV YORK.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 753,809, dated March 1, 1904.

7 Application filed August 14, 1901. Serial No. 72,012. (No model.)

To all whmn it 777/0151 concern: I

Beit known that we, TIuoTIIY BERNARD PowERs and MAJOR RoMEYN J EWELL, of New York, in the county of New Yorlnin the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Playing Apparatus for Musical Instruments, of which the following, taken in connection with-the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, being applicable for use in connection with any form of string or reed instruments and referring more particularly to electrically-operated pianos, organs, and similar key-operated musical instruments.

The primary object of this invention is to provide means for automatically reproducing any musical composition with all the variations and combinations of tone, expression, and feeling to give a faithful interpretation of the composers purposes and intentions.

Another object is to so construct and arrange certain parts of the apparatus as to permit the operator to manually control the operation of various elements to Vary the volume and expression of the music at will and to entirely out out the expression-controlling magnets and fingers, if desired.

A further object is to control the wind and rewind of the music-sheet, both manually and automatically, and to also provide means for automatically and manually releasing the music-sheet carriage from its operative position for permitting the removal and insertion of the music-sheet cylinders.

To this end the invention consists in the combination, arrangement, and construction of the parts of a music-playing apparatus, as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piano and my improved playing device connected thereto. Fig. 2

is adiagrammatic view showing one form of connecting the several electric circuits from a single source of electric energy to the key and pedal magnets, motor and circuit breaker, and expression-controlling magnets. Figs. 3. and t are respectively top plan and front elevation of the detached playing apparatus. Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged opposite end views, partly in section, of the upper portion of thedevice seen in Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the swinging carriage and mechanism mounted thereon, showing also the adjacent portion of the supportingframe and driving mechanism in section and the electrically-operated means for controlling the position of the driving mechanism, the swinging frame and the parts mounted thereon being shown in dotted lines in its inoperative position. Fig. 8 is a detail end view of the music-sheet cylinder and the carriage holding and releasing mechanism. Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional views taken. respectively, on line A A, Fig. 4c, and BB, Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a top plan View of the motor, showing the automatic and manually-operated controller therefor. Figs. 12 and-13 are sectional views taken, respectively, on lines O O and D I), Fig. 11. Fig. 14 is a detail view of the electrically-operated circuit-breaker and the rocking lever for controlling the position of the driving mechanism and bridge for the music-sheet. Fig. 15 is sectional view taken on line E E, Fig. 4:. Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view of the eccentric bridge for the music-sheet, the contact-bar and one of the contact-lingers controlled by the music-sheet. Fig. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary view ofa portion of the contact-bar and the contactsleeve of one of the fingers. Fig. 18 is a sectional view, partly broken away, taken on line F F, Fig. 7. Fig. 19 is a plan view of the music-sheet, showing the rewinding-roller and its inclosing case. Figs. 20 and 21 are respectively an end view and side elevation of one of the pedal-controlling magnets. Figs. 22 and 23 are detail views of the manual means for controlling the operation of the pedalmagnets. Fig. 24 is asectionalviewtaken on line a' m, Fig. 20.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

In the drawings, 1 represents a piano, hav- I the other for a lender expression, the use of ing a keyboard 2, a series of key-operating magnets 3, pedals 1, and pedal-controlling magnets 5, 6, 7, and 8.

9, Fig. 1, represents a suitable inclosing case containing the various devices for con trolling the operation of the key and pedal controlling magnets, and represents a batcrating various parts ofour invention.

The key-operating magnets 3 may be of any desired construction adapted to operate the keys independently ofeach other, being here illustrated as each consisting of double magnets having projecting pole-pieces and oscillatory armatures 11 pivoted between the polepieces and adapted to be rocked into alinement therewith when the magnets are energized. magnets for each key of the musical instruthese pedals being well known to those skilled in the art.

It is sometimes desirable to hold either one or the other of these pedals for a limited time in its operative position, and we have therefore provided each of the pedal-controlling l devices with an additional magnet 7 and 8, tery or other source of electric energy for ophaving an independent armature 22, which is pivoted at a and provided with a shoulder 23,

1Ye preferably provide one of these 1 ment, the armature of each of which is connected to the key by suitable rods 12 and 13, the

rod 12 beingsecured to the lower face of the key j by screw-threads or other equivalentfastening 4 means and provided with a substantia1lyhorizontal loop-1et and a buffer 15, having an aperture alined with the opening in the loop. The lower section 13 is preferably formed of wire passed through the loop and aperture of the buffer and having its upper end arranged in the form of a coil engaged with the bulier and its lower end connected to the armature 11 by a suitable swivel connection 17 at one side of the axis of the armature. As the magnet is energized the armature is rocked to operate the key of the instrument, said armature being returned to its normal position either by the key or by a suitable spring 18.

The upper section 12 of the connection between the key and its magnet being free to move upon the lower section, it is evident that said key may be operated manually inthe usual manner without affecting the operation of the armature. These several magnets are connected to the battery 10 by suitable feedwires 19 and return-wires 20, the current being contxpolled by a suitable perforated musicsheet and independent contact making and breaking devices hereinafter described.

The pedal-controlling magnets are substantially identical in construction, there being one set of magnets for each pedal, in this instance two, as seen in Figs. 2, 20, and 21. These pedalmagnets 5 and 6 are similar to the key-controlling magnets 3, being each provided with projecting pole-pieces, and a rocking armature 21, adapted to be drawn into alinement with the pole-pieces when the magnet is energized, the armature of each of the magnets being connected to the pedals in any desired manner not necessary to herein illustrate or describe for effecting the operation of its corresponding pedal for the purpose for which said pedal is intended, one of the pedalsbeing usually forv a soft expression and arranged to engage a shoulder 24: on the armature 21, and which is normally held away from its core by a spring 22, the shoulder 23 being beveled on one side, so arranged relative to the shoulder 2% that when the armat ire 21 is drawn to its operative position by energizing the magnet, as 5, the shoulder 2i rides upon the beveled face of the shoulder 23, thus depressing its armature against the action of the spring 22, which as soon as the shoulder 24E passes the shoulder 23 reacts upon the armature 22 and automatically interlocks the shoulder 23 with the shoulder 2%, this latter shoulder 23 serving to hold the armature 21 and the pedal connected thereto in their operative positions until the magnets 7 8 are energized. This energizing of the magnets 7 8 operates the armature 22 and draws the shoulder 23 out of the path of the shoulder 24, thereby permitting the return of the armature 21 to its normal position, this return movement of the armature 21 being eiffected or facilitated by a suitable spring 25.

The magnets 7 and 8 are usually connected to the battery 10, being each connected in a circuit independent of the circuit for the adjacent pedal-magnet. The energizing of these pedal-magnets 5 and 6 and the auxiliary magnets 7 and 8 is controlled by suitable contact devices connected in their respective circuits, the contact being controlled by the musicsheet previously described. Suitable feedwires 26 and 27 connect the magnets 5, 6, 7, and S with their respective contactterminals, said magnets being connected to the returnconductor by suitable wires 28 and 29. Thus far we have described the key and pedal operating magnets and the circuits connected thereto, and we will now proceed to describe the means which control the operation of these magnets or, in other words, the various mechanisms which are inclosed in the case 9.

The means for controlling the key-operating magnets, Figs. 1, 5, 9, 10, and 19, consists of a music-sheet 30, a contact-bar 31, metal contact-lingers 32, and suitable driving mechanism, hereinafter described, for moving the music-sheet. This music-sheet 30 is preferably formed of thin sheet metal, as brass, which is less susceptible to expansion and contraction than paper, is more easily handled without liability of injury, and is provided with a series of perforations 33, coacting with the contact-lingers 32 for controlling the operation of the key-magnets and keys connected thereto for producing music. The opposite ends of the music-sheet are wound upon suitable rollers, presently described, and the intermediate portion travels over an eccentrically-pivoted rocking bridge 34, having a series of annular grooves 35, alined with the fingers 32, said fingers being formed of conducting material and are each provided with a rotatable contact-sleeve 36, of non-corrosive material, adapted to contact with the bar 31, which is also formed of electric conducting material.

The ends of the fingers 32, Figs. 9 and 16, adjacent to the contact-bar 31 are loosely connected to suitable rocking fingers 37 forming a continuation of the fingers 32 and having trailing points 38, adapted to enter the apertures 33 in the music-sheet and to also enter the grooves 35 in the bridge 34, these grooves 35 being of sufficient depth to insure the contact of the sleeves 36 with the contact-bar 31 when the trailing points 38 are registered with the apertures 33. The fingers 32 and 37 are preferably insulated from each other, the adjacent ends of the fingers 33 being provided with plates 39, of insulating material, said plates being formed with sockets in their end faces for receiving the adjacent ends of the fingers 32. The fingers 32 preferably consist of spring-wire tensioned toward the contact-bar 31, and the fingers 37 are so connected to the fingers 32that when the trailing points 38 are registered with the apertures in the music-sheet and the corresponding grooves in the bridge 34 the sleeves 36 automatically contact with the contact-bar, thereby closing the key-operating circuits through the contact-bar and fingers 32, said contact-bar and fingers 32 being connected in the key-operating circuit in the manner hereinafter described.

In order to automatically reproduce the musical composition to give the precise ex pression and feeling intended by the composer, we provide a plurality of rheostats, Figs. 2, 3, and 9, connected in the circuit between the key-operatihg fingers 32 and the key-operating magnets 3 and consisting of suitable resistance-coils 40 and contact-terminals 41, the terminals 41 preferably forming a part of the conducting-fingers 32 and normally contacting by their own spring tension with the helices of the coils 40. The coils 40 are preferably mounted upon a rocking frame 42, which is pivoted at 43 and is actuated by suitable electric means, presently described, for varying the position of the coils relative to the contact-terminals 41. V e usually provide one of these coils for each of the key-operating magnets, the coil for each magnet being connected to' its respective feedwire 19 in such manner that when the coil is moved in one direction the resistance through the feed-wire 19 is increased and when moved in the other direction the resistance is diminished.

The electric means, Figs. 2, 4, and 9, for shifting the position of the resistance-coils relative to the contact-terminals 41 is so constructed and arranged as to move the frame 42 for varying the resistance from one extreme to the other or to vary the contact to any number of points intermediate the extremes for gradually varying the resistance or for immediately producing any degree of resistance which may be desired. This variation in the resistance may be elfected by one or more magnets cooperating with one or more electric conducting-fingers adapted to contact with the bar 31 and controlled by perforations provided in the music-sheet. For the purpose of clearly illustrating the operation of this resistance-controlling device we have shown a series of magnets 44, 45, 46, and 47, representing four distinct contact-points between the fingers 32 and coils 40. These resistance-controlling magnets are each connected in an independent circuit to suitable conducting-fingers 44, 45, 46, and 47, Fig.

2, which are similar to the fingers 32, being provided with contact-sleeves 36 and extensions 37, the lingers 44, 45, 46, and 47 being connected by suitable conductors 48 to their respective magnets and forming the feedwires to said magnets from the main conduc tor 31, the only-difference between these latter fingers and the fingers 32 being that they are not provided with any contact-terminals and have no connection with the resistancecoils.

In Fig. 2 we have shown each of the magnets 44, 45, 46, and 47 as connected to the return-wire 20 by return-conductors 62 and as provided with suitable pole-pieces and oscillatory armatures movable between the respective pole-pieces, said arn'latures being similar in construction to those described for operating the keys and pedals and are limited in their rocking movement by shoulders 42, provided on a yoke 42" and arranged to engage projections 43 upon the armatures of the magnets 45 and 46, as seen in Fig. 9.

The music-sheet 30, Figs. 2 and 19, is provided with apertures for controlling the contact for the fingers ,44, 45, 46, and 47 with the bar 31, one of the trailing points 38 of one of the fingers 41 being shown as registered with one of the apertures 50 and the armature of its corresponding magnet being shown as moved to its operative position for shifting the resistance-coils 40 to the point of greatest resistance.

The armatures, Fig. 9, of the several expression-magnets are connected to each other and to the rocking frame 42 in such manner that when one of the armatures is rocked the positions of the remaining armatures are shifted, and it is thus evident that no matter which armature may be moved they all maintain substantially the same relative position to each other, the armature 45 being arranged to slightly reduce the resistance and the armature 46 still further reduces the resistance, while the armature 17 is so adjusted relatively to the others as to move the rocking frame 42 to cut out practically all the resistance and form a direct current of full potential, it being understood that independent apertures are provided in the musicsheet for operating each of the resistance-controlling magnets independently of the others through their respective fingers 4A, &5, 46, and 17 and contactbar 31.

The electrical contact devices, Fig. 2, for controlling the operation of the pedal-magnets 5, 6, 7, and 8 preferably consist of fingers 51, 52, and 53, which are identical in construction with the fingers 4 1 of the expression-controlling magnets, being preferably provided with non-corrosive contact-sleeves 36, adapted to contact with the bar 31 and having the extensions 37 and controlling-points 38, these controlling points being adapted to enter apertures 54 in the music-sheet, whereby the circuit is closed at the proper time through the contact-bar 31, lingers 51, 52, and 53, and pedal-operating magnets 5, 6, 7, and 8.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that when one of the perforations 5 1 is registered with one of the trailing points as, for instance, that of the finger 51the contactsleeve 36 of said finger automaticallycontacts with the bar 31, thereby closing the circuit through the magnet 5 to energize the magnet and operate its armature 21, which in turn operates the pedal connected thereto. At the same time the shoulder 24 on said armature automatically engages the shoulder 23 of the armature 22 of the magnet 7, which holds the armature 21 in operative position until another one of the apertures 5a registers with the trailing point of the finger connected in the circuit of the electromagnet 7, closes the circuit through said magnet, thereby actuating its armature and withdrawing the shoulder 23 from engagement with the shoulder 24, where-' by the armature 21 automatically returns to its normal position either by means of the pedal connected thereto or the spring 25. In like manner the magnets 6 and 8 control the operation of the other pedal connected thereto, it being understood that any number of pedals may be used. and similarly connected in an independent circuit adapted to be closed by a suitable perforation in the music-sheet.

It is desirable in this class of playing apparatus to provide means for automatically breaking the circuit through the several key and pedal operating magnets and also through the expression-controlling magnets when the music-sheet approaches the end of the musical composition, Figs. 2, 5, and 14, and we therefore provide a suitable circuit-breaker 55,

whichis connected in the key, pedal, and ex-' pression controlling circuits between the contact-bar 31 and the source of electric energy 10. This circuit-breaker preferably consists of suitable terminals, which are normally in contact with each other during the operation of the apparatus for producing music, one of the terminals being usually s 'n'ing-tensioned to separate from the other terminal automatically and is held in contact with said other terminal by a suitable catch 56, in this instance consisting of an armature of an electromagnet 57, the armature being so arranged that when the magnet is energized the armature is moved to release the spring contactterminal of the circuit-breaker 55, whereupon said movable contact-linger automatically separates from the other terminal and breaks the circuit through the key, pedal, and expression controlling magnets. The means for energizing this magnet 57 consists of a contact-finger 58, Fig. 2, which is substantially identical in construction with the linger 1 1, being preferably provided with a noncorrosive contactsleeve 36 and an extension 37, having a trailing point 38, said trailing point being adapted to register with a suitable aperture 59 in the music-sheet, this aperture being usually at the end of the composition and the last to register with any of the contact-fingers, and when said aperture is registered with its trailing point 38 the circuit is closed through the magnet 57 and operates the armature 56 for the purpose above described, it being understood that one of the terminals of the circuit-breaking device 55 is connected to one pole of the battery 10 by a suitable feed-wire 60, the other terminal being connected to the contact-bar 31 by a conductor 61.

It is sometimes desirable to break the circuit through the several key, pedal, and expression controlling magnets during the reproduction of the musical composition by the music-sheet, and we therefore provide manually-operated means consisting of a push-rod 63, Figs. 1, 5, and 14, which is movably mounted upon a bridge-operating member 6st and adapted to engage the armature 56 for operating the same to release the movable teri'ninal of the circuit-breaker 55. This armature 56 also serves to control the position of the winding and rewinding mechanism for the music-sheet, previously mentioned, through the medium of the bridge 34, which is eccentrically pivoted at its opposite ends in a swing-frame 65, hereinafter described.

Secured to one end of the bridge 34:, Figs. 5 and 7, is the ope 'ating member 64, consisting of a lever having an arm 66, normally ongaged with the armature 56 in such manner that when the armature is drawn toward the magnet 51 the bridge 3 1 is free to rock upon its eccentric pivots, the rocking movement be facilitated by a spring 67, which is secured to a frame at one end and its other end ten- IIO sioned against a suitable cam-face 68, formed on the bridge, said spring being extended beyond the bridge and engaged with a stud 70, provided on a rock-arm 71, which in turn is centrally pivoted to 72 to one of the end walls, as 73, of the supporting-frame 85. The purpose of eccentrically pivoting the bridge 34 is that when the music-sheet is placed in position upon its feeding-rolls the bridge is manually rocked by the lever 64 to tension the music-sheet and spring contact-fingers during the operation of the apparatus for producing music, it being understood that the bridge is in its highest position during such operation and is held in this position by the engagement of the arm 66 with the armature 56.

The contact-bar 31, Figs. 9 and 10, is movable transversely of. the several contact-fingers and music-sheet, being adapted to be withdrawn entirely, if desired, for the purpose of scouring or polishing its contact-surface and insuring a positive electrical contact with the contact part of fingers of the several key, pedal, and expression controlling circuits. This contact-bar is preferably mounted in a suitable metal guide or sleeve of conducting material, connected in the key-operating circuit, having a'lengthwise opening 7 6,through which the contact rib or surface 78 of the contact-bar 31 projects, the inner end of the contact-bar being slightly tapered and its outer end being provided with a handpiece 79, whereby the contact-bar 31 may be readily withdrawn or inserted into the guide-sleeve 75, the inner tapering end of'said contact-bar serving to elevate any of the contact-fingers during the insertion of the bar 31 without liability of injuring or binding the fingers. The sleeve 75 is in electrical contact with the bar 31 and is preferably mounted at its opposite ends in suitable bearings 80, Fig. 10, which are electrically connected to the sleeve and are adjustable vertically by means of suitable adjusting-screws 81 and springs 82, the adjusting-screws 81 being in electrical connection with the bar 31 through the bearings 80 and sleeve 75, mounted in insulating-supports 83, one screw, 81, being electrically connected by a wire 81 to the circuit-breaker 55, and the springs 82 are interposed between the supports 83 and bearings 80. This sliding contact-bar is an important feature of our invention, having a sliding electrical contact with the sleeve 75, and it is evident that by moving the same back and forth under the several contact points or sleeves 36 the contact-surfaces are thereby cleaned and brightened, thus insuring a more perfect electrical contact with said sleeve and fingers.

The swing-frame 65, Fig. 7, is adapted to support the music-sheet and its supportingrollers and bridge, and is preferably arranged to swing outwardly in a substantially horizontal plane, being pivoted at 84: to a suitable supporting-base 85 and adapted to be forced outwardly to its inoperative position by a spring 86. The opposite end walls of the frame 65 is provided with front bearings 87 and 88 and rear bearings 89 and 90, these bearings being arranged in a plane beneath and at the front and rear sides of the bridge 3 1. The front bearings 87 and 88 are adapted to support a revolving roller 91 to which the musicsheet is secured, the rear bearings 89 and being adapted to support a revolving fcedroller 92. Journaled in the bearings 87 is a hollow bushing 93, having one end provided with a gear 94% and its inner end formed with a socket 95 and lengthwise grooves 96, the adjacent end of the roller 91 being provided with a trunnion 97, having ribs or shoulders 98, adapted to interlock with the grooves 96,said grooves being of suflicient length to permit the roller to be moved endwise against the action of a suit able spring 99, which is interposed between the end face of the trunnion 97 and the end wall of the socket 95. J ournaled in the opposite end bearing 88 is a bushing 100,.formed with a socket 101 in its inner face, its other end being provided with an arm 102 for a purpose hereinafter described, the socket 101 being arranged to receive a trunnion 103, formed on the adjacent end of the roller or cylinder 91, said trunnion being free to revolve in the socket independently of the bushing 100. This roller 91, Figs. 8 and 9, is adapted to receive and support the music-sheet, which is wound thereon and secured thereto at one end by a suitable rod 10%, extending lengthwise of the roller within a suitable recess 105 or in any other suitable manner. Loosely mounted upon the roller 91 is a cylindrical casing 106, having end walls 107 and a lengthwise opening or slot 108, extending through the cylindrical shell, and end walls for permitting the withdrawal or movement of the free end of the music-sheet therethrough. The bushing and casing 106 are detachably locked to each other, the bushing 100 being provided with an annular flange having a recess or cutout 109, and the adjacent end wall of the cyl inder 106 is provided with a projecting stud or pin 110, Figs. 7 and 8, projecting into said recess for locking the cylinder and bushing together. Sufiicient space is left between the inner end of the hollow bushing 93 and the adjacent end of the cylinder or roller 91 to permit the cylinder and roller to be moved endwise against the action of the spring 99 for withdrawing the trunnion 103 from the socket 101, whereupon said cylinder may be moved outwardly and endwise for withdrawing the trunnion 97 from the socket 96, the purpose of this being to permit the musicholding case or cylinder and roller to be removed and a new music-sheet and its holder inserted when desired.

Pivoted to the supporting-frame 85 at 111 is a catch-arm 112, Fig. 8, having a shoulder 113, adapted to interlock with a shoulder 11 1, provided on the carriage 65, this catch-arm 112 serving to automatically engage and normally hold the swing-frame in its operative or closed position, and is forced into operative position by a suitable spring 114, said arm 112 being provided also with a cam-face 115, adapted to be engaged by the arm 102 when actuated by the movement of the cylinder 106 upon the rewind of the music-sheet, or the said arm 112 may be operated manually, being provided with a laterally-extending finger-piece 116. Secured to the arm 112 is a projecting stud 117, which is arranged to engage the armature 56 for simultaneously rocking the same when the catch-arm 112 is elevated or moved to its inoperative position, thereby serving to operate the circuit-breaker 55 mechanically to cut out the key, pedal, and expression controlling circuits when the earriage is released.

The roller 92, Figs. 7 and 9, is journaled in the bearings 89 and and is provided with flanges 118, having suitable cut-outs 119 and spring-catches 120, the intermediate portion of the roller being provided with a lengthwise groove 121, having an enlargement 122, the groove and recess being adapted to receive the free end of the music-sheet and a suitable finger ring or loop 123 secured thereto. The free end of the music-sheet is provided with a lengthwise bar 30', Fig. 9, around which the music-sheet is folded, said bar being extended beyond the opposite edges of the music-sheet to form projections 124, adapted to engage the opposite ends of the front wall of the lengthwise opening in the cylinder 106 when the music-sheet is rewound upon the roller 91. The advance end of the music-sheet 30 is adapted to rest in the recess or grooves 121 and 122, the projecting ends 124 of the bar 30 being adapted to enter the cut-outs 119, and are held in position by a spring in such manner that as the music-sheet is unwound from the roller 92 the projections 124 will automatically withdraw from the recesses 119 out of engagement with the spring-catches 120.

The driving mechanism, Figs. 3, 4, 6, and 7, for rotating the rollers 92 and 91 in reverse directions preferably consists of gears 129 and 130, additional gears 131 and 132, and a pulley 133, actuated bya suitable motor 134, the gears 129 and 130 being mounted upon a spindle on the rock-arm 71 at one side of its pivot 72, and the gears 131 and 132 and the pulley 133 being mounted upon a spindle 136 of the arm 71 at the opposite side of its pivot, the gears 130 and 131 being in mesh with each other and the gear 129 being adapted to mesh with a gear 94, secured to the roller 92, when the arm 71 is rocked in one direction, and the gear 132 being adapted to mesh with the gear 94 on the roller 91 when the arm is rocked in the opposite direction, the operation of the rock-arm 71 being controlled, as previously described, by a spring 67 and the operating member 64 for the bridge carriage is released.

34. A suitable brake 137, Fig. 7, engages the end face of the roller 92 and serves to prevent any slack in the music-sheet during the process of rewinding the same or when the It is evident from the foregoing description that when the driving mechanism is connected to the roller 92 the music-sheet will be wound thereon until automatically released by withdrawing the armature 56 from engagement with the arm 66, said arn'lature being withdrawn either by the 'magnet or by means of the push-rod 63,

whereupon the driving mechanism is automatically shifted to actuate the roller 91 in the reverse direction for rewinding the musicsheet thereon. When the music-sheet is unwound from the roller 92 and the shoulders 124 engage the casing 106, said casing is par tially rotated, thereby rocking the arm 102 and elevating the arm 112, which releases the carriage,and the carriage is then automatic: lly swung outwardly by the spring 86 and disconnects the rollers 91 and 92 from the driving mechanism, as illustratedin Fig. 7, the arm 102 and easing connected thereto being returned to their normal position by a suitable spring 138.

The motor 134 is connected to the source of electric energy 10, the motor and other circuits previously described being provided with a suitable switch 139, which isnormally closed and is adapted to be automatically opened by the carriage when the same is released, saidswitch being provided with a shoulder 140, adapted to interlock with the adjacent portions of the swing-frame 65, and when said frame is swung outwardly the switch is forced to its inoperative or open position by a suitable spring 141, Figs. 5 and 9.

The shaft of the motor 134, Figs. 11, 12, and 13, is provided with a suitable governor or speed-regulator consisting of eentrifugallyoperated weights 145, a spring-actuated contact-arm 146, and a sliding contact-plate 147 in electrical contact with the finger 146. This plate 147 is arranged upon an insulating-bar 148, carried by an oscillatory bar 149, which is adapted to be moved manually along the contact-finger 146 by a suitable hand-lever 150, and a link 151 connecting said hand-lever with the arm 149. It is thus evident that the speed. of the motor may be regulated either automatically or by the handpiece 150. The contact-finger 146 is arranged to oscillate along permitting the contact-finger 146 to return to contact with the plate 147.

It is sometimes desirable to cut out the expression-controlling magnets, and we therefore provide manually-operated means, Figs. 3, 4, and 7, consisting of a pull-rod 157, having a cam-face 158, adapted to ride upon a shoulder 159 of the supporting-frame of the apparatus, said pull-rod being provided with an arm 160, adapted to engage the fingers 44, 45, 46, and 47, which are in electrical connection with said magnets 44 45 46 47 for elevating said fingers and preventing their automatic operation or control by the musicsheet. It is also desirable at times to manually operate the resistance-coils, and we therefore provide means consisting of a handpiece 162, Figs. 3 and 4, which is connected to the rocking frame 42 by a suitable link 163.

In order to enable the operator to control the operation of the pedals from a position remote from the instrument, we provide springlines in said figure.

conductors 31 and terminals 51, 52, and 8, the spring-conductors 31 being connected to the source of electric energy, as the battery 10 by the wire 60, and the terminals 51 and 52 are connected, respectively. to the magnets 5 and 6 by the wires 26. (Shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.) The terminals 8 and 51 are secured to the opposite faces of a suitable insulating-piece (seen in Fig. 23) in such manner as to insulate them from each other, the terminals 8 being connected to the releasepedal magnets 8 and 7 by wires 27 and 27, Fig. 2, said wire 27 being shown by dotted These terminals 51 and 8 incline from a vertical position in such manner that the contact-face of the terminal 51 lies in the path of the free end of the adjacent conductor 31 as the same is depressed by its push-button, and by the continued depression of said conductor 31 it normally tends to move in a vertical plane and has a sliding contact with said terminal and closes the circuit through one of the magnets, as 5, which is connected thereto by one of the wires 26. This energizes the magnet 5 and rocks its armature 21 to operate the pedal connected thereto, said armature being automatically locked in this position by the shoulder 23 engaging the arm 24. If it is desired that the pedal remain in operative position, the pressure on the push-button is released, and the spring-conductor 31 is permitted to return by its own tension to its normal position. In like manner the other pedal is operated by closing the circuit through the terminal 52 and the adjacent spring-conductor 31. If,

however, it is desired to release either one of the pedals after the same has been forced to and held in its operative position, as just described, the downward movement of the terminal 31 along the inclined face of the terminal 51 is continued, which causes the said spring-conductor to spring laterally against its own tension, and as soon as said springconductor is sufliciently depressed by its pushbutton beneath the lower end of the terminal 51 it instantl y springs laterally and upwardly in the opposite direction under and against the similarly-inclined face of said terminal 8', it being understood that the pressure on the push-button is released as soon as the springconductor leaves the lower end of the terminal 51'. As this spring-conductor continues to move upwardly by its own tension into sliding contact with the terminal 8 the circuit is closed through the release-magnets 7 and 8, which are then energized and operate their armatures to draw the shoulders 23 out of holding engagement with the arms 24, whereupon the armatures 21 are returned to their normal positions by the springs 25.

In the operation of our invention the musicsheet holder or cylinder is placed in position upon the carriage and connected with the roller 92. The carriage is then swung to its operative position, the lever 64 is rocked for engaging the armature 56, and thereby move the bridge 34 to its operative position and connects the driving mechanism with the roller 92. The switch 139 is then operated to close the circuit for the motor and also makes connection with contact-bar 31, the motor serving to operate the music-sheet mechanism for winding the music-sheet upon the roller 92-. As the music-sheet reaches the end of the musical composition, the aperture 59 causes the circuit to close through the magnet 57, which contacts the armature 56, thereby releasing the driving mechanism and breaking the circuit at the circuit-breaker 55. This breaking of the circuit cuts out the key, pedal, and expression controlling circuits, but does not efiect the motor-circuit. The spring 67 then forces the driving mechanism into engagement with the gear 94 of the roller 91, which rewinds the music sheet thereon until the shoulders 124 disengage from the roller 92 and engage with the walls of the slot 108 of the casing 106, which automatically rocks the casing and the arm 102 and elevates the locking member out of the path of the shoulder 114 of the swinging carriage, whereupon said carriage is automatically forced outwardly by the spring 86, thus disconnecting the rollers from the driving mechanism and automatically operating the switch 139 to open the motor-circuit and stop the motor.

The operation of our invention will now be readily understood upon reference to the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, and it will be noted that considerable change may be made in the detail construction and arrangement of the component parts of our improved playing apparatus without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

IIO

1. The combination with an electrically-operated key of a musical instrument, of a contact-finger and a non-rotating metal guide connected in the key-operating circuit, an electric conductor movable in said guide transversely of the linger in electrical contact with the guide, and means for making and breaking the contact between the fingers and bar.

2. In an electrically-operated musical instru ment, the combination of a series of contactfingers, and a non-rotating metal sleeve, the fingers and sleeve being connected in the operating-circuit and a bar in electrical connection with the sleeve movable therein transversely of the fingers.

3. In an electrical]y-operated musical instrument, the combination of a series of contact lingers, and a non-rotating sleeve, the fingers and sleeve being connected in the operating circuit and a conductor movable transversely of the fingers in contact with the sleeve, and means for controlling the contact between the fingers and conductor.

4. The combination with a series of electrically-operated keys of a musical instrument, a non-rotating metal guide and fingers electrically connected in the key-operating circuits, a metal bar movable endwise in the guide transversely of the lingers in electrical contact with the guide, and a perforated music-sheet movable between the bar and lingers for the purpose described.

5. The combination with electrically-operated keys of a musical instrument, a series of contact-lingers operating in connection with a music-sheet, and a bar removable endwise and having contact with the lingers, a guide for the bar, said lingers and bar being c011- nected in the key-operating circuits.

6. The combination with a series of contactfingers and a non-rotating sleeve of conducting material connected in circuit with a series of electrically-operated keys of a musical instrument, of a metal bar in contact with the sleeve, a music-sheet controlling the contact of the fingers with the bar, said bar being movable transversely of the movement of the music-sheet in contact with the sleeve.

7. A contact device for electrically-operated musical instruments consisting of a guide and a sliding contact bar or rod guided thereon, and a linger adapted to contact with the bar.

8. A contact device for electrically-operated musical instruments consisting of an opensided sleeve, a sliding contact-bar guided in the sleeve and projecting through its opening, and a finger adapted to contact with said projecting portion of the bar.

9. A contact device for electrically-operated musical instruments consisting of a slidable contact-bar, and a finger having a noncorrosive sleeve rotatable on the finger and adapted to contact with the bar.

10. A contact device for electrically-operated musical instruments consisting of an opensided sleeve, a sliding contact-bar guided in the sleeve and projecting through its opening, and a linger having a non-corrosive sleeve adapted to contact with the projecting portion of the bar.

11. A contact device for electrically-operated musical instruments consisting of a guiderod and a sliding contact bar or red guided thereon, and a linger having a non-corrosive sleeve adapted to contact with the bar.

12. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, an clectrically-operated key, an expression-controlling device comprising a resistance-coil and a contact member both connected in the key-operating circuit, the coil being movable relatively to the contact member for varying the circuit resistance, in combination with a conductor, a music-sheet to make and break contact between the member and conductor, an independent electric circuit, and means operated thereby to gradually shit't the position of the coil.

13. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, an electrically-operated key, an expression-controllin g device comprising a resistance-coil and contact member both connected in the key-operating circuit, one of the parts being movable upon the other, in combination with a conductor, a music-sheet adapted to make and break contact between the member and conductor, and independent electric circuits having devices connected therein for actuating the movable part stepbystep a part of its full movement.

14. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, an electrically-operated key, an expression-controlling device comprising a resistance-coil and a contact member both connected in the key-operating circuit, a conductor, a music-sheet to make and break contact between the member and conductor, and electrically-operated devices connected in independent circuits and controlled by the music-sheet for shifting one of the parts relatively to the other to vary the degree of resistance in the operating-circuit to points intermediate its extremes.

15. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, an electrically-operated key, an expression-controlling device comprising a resistance-coil and a contact member both connected in the key-operating circuit, the coil being movable relatively to the contact member, a conductor, a music-sheet to make and break contact between the member and conductor, and electrically-operated devices connected in independent circuits for shifting the position of the coil step by step.

16. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, the combination with a key, of an electric working circuit, and a keyoperating magnet connected therein, contact members connected in said circuit, the contact being controlled by a music-sheet, a resistancecoil having a sliding contact with one of said members, independent electric circuits having separate contact members adapted to engage the other of the former members and controlled by the music-sheet, and separate devices connected in and actuated by the latter circuits for shifting the posit-ion of the coil.

17. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, a key-working circuit, a contact-bar and a finger connected in said circuit, a music-sheet for controlling the contact between said bar and finger, a resistance-coil connected in said circuit, and having a sliding contact with the finger, a second electric circuit having a finger connected therein adapted to contact with the bar, said contact being controlled by the music-sheet, and an electrically-operated device connected in the second circuit and adapted to shift the position of the coil relatively to the contact-finger for the purpose described. a

18. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, an electric key-operating circuit, a contact-bar and a finger connected in said circuit, and adapted to contact with each other, amusic-sheet for controlling the said contact, a resistance-coil also connected in said circuit and having a sliding contact with the finger, a series of independent circuits each having a finger adapted to contact with said bar, the contact being controlled by the musicsheet, a series of electrically-operated devices separately connected to said circuits, each of said devices being connected to shift the position of the coil.

19. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, an electric key-operating circuit, a contact-bar and a finger connected in said circuitand adapted to contact with each other, a music-sheet for controlling the said contact, a resistance-coil also connected in said circuit and having a sliding contact with the finger, a series of independent electric circuits having electrically-operated devices separately connected in said independent circuits and connections, whereby said devices shift the position of the coil step by step from one extreme position to the other.

20. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, a plurality of key-Working electric circuits, a contact-bar connected in and common wail of the circuits, a contact-finger connected in each circuit and adapted to contact with the bar, the music-sheet operating to control said contact, a resistancecoil connected in each of the circuits and having a sliding 'contact with its respective finger, a secondseries" of independent electric circuits, an electromagnet connected in each of the latter circu its and provided with an armature, said armatures being mechanically. connected to eachother and operating to shift the coilsstep by step in opposite directions.

21. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, a keyworking electric 22. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, an electric Working circuit, a finger and a contact-bar connected in said circuit, a moving stencil to control the contact between said bar and finger, a rocking support, a resistance-coil connected in said electric circuit and mounted on the support and having a sliding contact with the finger, and a series of electrically-operated devices controlled by the stencil to shift the position of the coil step by step.

23. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, an electrically-operated key, a contact-finger and a non-rotatable bar connected in the key-operating circuit, said bar being movable transversely of the finger, a resistance-coil connected in said circuit and having a sliding contact with thevfinger, independent electric circuits having devices connected therein to shift the position of the coil step by step', and a moving stencil for controlling the contact between the finger and bar and operating to open and close the independent circuits.

24:. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, a key-operating'electric circuit, a contact-bar and a finger connected the circuit, a music-sheet operating to control the contact, a resistance-coil connected in the electric circuit and having a sliding contact with the finger, additional electriccircuits independent ofthe former circuit, additional fingers connected in the latter circuits and adapted to contact with said bar, the contact being controlled by the music-sheet, and electrically-operated devices connected in the additional circuits and having mechanically-connected armatures connected to move the coil step by step.

25. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, an electric circuit having a key operating electromagnet connected therein, contacting members connected in said circuit, a music-sheet and a trailing point coacting therewith and insulated from one of the contact members to move said member into and out of contact with the other member, a resistance-coil connected in the keyworking circuit and having a sliding contact with one-of the contact members, separate circuits having fingers connected therein to contact with one of said members, said latter contact being controlled by the music-sheet, and

electrically-operated devices connected in said circuits for shifting the resistance-coil step by step.

26. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, a key-working circuit having a finger and a contact-bar connected therein, a music-sheet and means interposed between the music-sheet and finger and insulated therefrom whereby the contact is controlled by the music-sheet, a rocking support carrying a resistance coil connected in the key-working circuit and having a sliding contact with the finger, additional independent electric circuits having fingers connected therein to contact with said bar, the contact of the latter fingers being controlled by the music-sheet, and electric devices connected in the additional circuits and operating to rock the support step by step in both directions.

27. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, the combination with a plurality of key-operating electric circuits, each having a contact-finger connected therein, of a contact-bar common to all of the fingers, said bar having a sliding endwise movement transversely of the fingers whereby some of the fingers may be cut out of contact with the bar without breaking contact with the other fingers, and a music-sheet for controlling the contact of the fingers with the bar.

28. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, the combination with a key-operating electric circuit having a plurality of fingers, a guide adjustable relatively to the fingers, and a contact-bar mounted in the guide and movable transversely of-the fingers, said bar being connected in the key-operating circuit, and the contact of the fingers with said bar being 'c ontrolled by a music-sheet.

29.1'In automatic playing apparatus for musical ifis'truments, the combination with the swinging carriage for the music-sheet, of a detentfor the carriage, means to feed the sheet in one direction, additional means to feed the sheet in the revers'e' direction, a' second detent holding one of said means in operative position, and electrically operated means controlled by the music-sheet to release the latter detent without releasing the carriage.

30. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, winding and rewinding rollers for the music-sheet, a swinging carriage for the rollers, driving mechanism independent of the carriage for rotating the winding-roller in one direction, and movable means normally tensioning the music-sheet and connected to shift the driving mechanism from the winding-roller to the rewinding-roller and to simultaneously release the tension on the music-sheet.

31. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, a swinging carriage for the music-sheet, winding and rewinding mechanism for the music-sheet, means to force the winding mechanism into operative position and to simultaneously tension the sheet, a detent to hold the Winding mechanism in operative position, and electric means controlled by the music-sheet torelease the detent.

32. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, the combination with winding and rewinding rolls for the musicsheet, an eccentrically-pivoted bridge supporting the intermediate portion of the musicsheet, an arm secured to the bridge, an electromagnet having its armature engaged with the arm to hold the bridge in its operative position, electrical contact members connected in the magnet-circuit and controlled by the music-sheet to close the circuit through the magnet and release the armature and bridge, and driving mechanism controlled by the rocking of the bridge for alternately rotating the rollers in reverse directions.

33. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, the combination with winding and rewinding rolls for the musicsheet, an eccentrically -pivoted bridge supporting the intermediate portion of the musicsheet, an arm secured to the bridge, an electromagnet having its armature engaged with the arm to hold the bridge in its operative position, electrical contact members connected in the magnet-circuit and controlled by the music-sheet to close the circuit through the magnet and release the armature and bridge, and driving mechanism controlled by the rocking of the bridge for alternately rotating the rollers in reverse directions, and manuallyoperated means to disengage the armature from said arm.

34. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, the combination with a winding and rewinding mechanism for the music-sheet, of manually-operated means for forcing the winding mechanism to its operative position, a detent for said means, electric means controlled by the music-sheet for operating the detent to release the former means, and additional means for automatically forcing the winding mechanism out of action and simultaneously moving'the rewinding mechanism into action.

35. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, the combination with a winding and rewinding mechanism for the music-sheet, of means for automatically forcing the rewinding mechanism into operative position, a rocking member connected to force the winding mechanism into operation and to disconnect the rewind ingmechanism, and electrically-operated means controlling the operation of the rocking member.

36. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, the combination with revoluble Winding and rewinding rollers for the music-sheet, each roller, being provided with a gear, of a rock-arm carrying driving-pinions arranged to alternately engage said gears as the arm is rocked in reverse directions, an ee- 

